English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Overthwaite

Early-attested site in the Parish of Beetham

Historical Forms

  • Orfurth als. Overfurth 1575,1608 FF
  • Overforth(e) 1610 Bthm 1640 Kendii,271 1707 Bthm
  • Overforth(e) als. Orforth 1694 ib
  • Overthwaite 1612,1639 Bthm c.1670 Kendii,272 1857 OS
  • Overthwaite als. Overforth 1639 FF
  • Overthwt 1647 Bthm
  • Overthwaite, by contraction Worfat als. Overforth or Orforth 1770 Bthm

Etymology

'Upper clearing', v. uferra , þveit ; ford is unlikely topographically. The forms in -forth doubtless arise in the first place from the dial. change of -thwaite to -fit or the like (Phonol. §23); for Or - from Over - cf. Orton (ii, 42infra ).

Places in the same Parish

Other OS name

Early-attested site